The Principle of Intention and Its Scope

The principle of intention is considered as one of the most widely used jurisprudential principles. Despite its prominent presence in various jurisprudential areas, its project as a jurisprudential principle with mentioning various aspects and its applications has been less carried out. The current paper seeks to introduce the principle and express the arguments that can be used to prove the principle. These arguments include the book (the Qur'an), tradition, and reason. Unlike some who basically consider intention to be specific to worship, not only intention but, consequently, the principle of intention also applies to non-worships. Therefore, intention as a principle is not devoted to the intention of proximity (to Allah). In addition, intention include the meanings of the intention of title, the intention of the speaker of the word and its effect and purpose, the word intention and the principle of motivation and purpose, and practically it has been used in all these meanings. The jurisprudential application of the principle along with the principle of narratives in different areas is a proof of this generalization. Contrary to some people's beliefs, the word "intention" still has the meaning of its word. The former jurists in various cases have easily used some verses and hadiths to prove the principle and the necessity of intention, but gradually some of the late jurists have questioned the arguments of these verses. Even, they have not accepted the arguments and evidence of some narratives to prove the principle.